The deaf community in Yobe State has raised alarm over health and social risks faced by its members due to the absence of sign language interpreters in public hospitals and government programmes.
Malam Kolo Abba, Chairman of the Deaf Cluster in Damaturu Local Government, made the appeal during a citizens and stakeholders’ engagement ahead of the 2026 budget dialogue, organised to improve service delivery in the state.
Speaking through an interpreter, Abba said deaf patients often struggle to understand medical prescriptions and instructions from doctors, a gap that exposes them to avoidable health risks.
“The lack of interpreters in hospitals is a sign of the wider neglect of deaf persons in Yobe State,” he said. “Our problem is not only about health. We have just one special school for the deaf across the entire state, and many children are left behind. We need a standard senior secondary school for the deaf.”
He further urged the government to integrate sign language interpreters into hospitals, official programmes, and public events to ensure that the deaf community has equal access to information and opportunities.
Abba also appealed for financial support, noting that many deaf persons in the state were eager to go into business but lacked start-up capital.
In his remarks, Mr. Baba Kucici, Secretary of Yobe Civil Society Organisations, presented a consolidated list of citizens’ demands. He called for the creation of a direct feedback mechanism to monitor government projects, stressing that such measures would strengthen accountability and public trust.
He also emphasised the importance of involving National Assembly members in the budget dialogue to ensure that issues with federal implications receive national attention.
The dialogue, facilitated by civil society and government representatives, brought together stakeholders to harmonise citizens’ priorities ahead of the 2026 budget.
Yobe Deaf Community Demands Sign Language Interpreters in Hospital, Schools
